Woodlands Academy's 'As You Like It' features student's music
In addition to her starring role in Woodlands Academy of the Sacred Heart's production of William Shakespeare's "As You Like It," sophomore Katelynn Soto of Chicago is helping compose some of the original music that will be featured at 7 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, March 5-7, at the all-girls college prep high school, 760 E. Westleigh Road, Lake Forest.
"Katelynn wrote the ukulele chords for one song, and I created a melody for her to sing with another student using Shakespeare's lyrics," said Sarah Grunnah, Woodlands Academy theater director. Soto will be seen onstage portraying the play's heroine, Rosalind, who disguises herself as the male page Ganymede in order to woo the play's male lead, Orlando.
Grunnah's adaptation of one of Shakespeare's later plays will feature about a half-dozen songs with melodies she has composed along with Heather Bordley-Harvell, a voice teacher at the school.
"I chose 'As You Like It' because of the challenges it presents for our students. The roles are more complex than those in some of Shakespeare's earlier works," said Grunnah, who also teaches English at Woodlands Academy. "It also addresses issues that today's students can identify with such as forging one's identity and relationships with others."
This is not a traditional musical presentation since there will be no pit orchestra. The singers and instrumentalists are all seen onstage as part of the action. Grunnah is staging this production in the school's dining room in a thrust stage setup, rather than the more traditional theatrical setting of Woodlands' performing arts center, to provide the audience a more dynamic experience - one which is more similar to what Shakespeare's original audiences would have experienced.
Grunnah said that the sets for this production have been designed and created by Fine Arts Department Chairman Catherine DeVuono with the help of art students at the school, making it another truly collaborative effort showcasing a variety of student talent.
"As You Like It," is a pastoral comedy that features one of Shakespeare's most famous speeches, "all the world's a stage," and is the origin of the phrase "too much of a good thing." The play remains a favorite among audiences and has been adapted previously for musical theater as well as for radio and film.
Tickets for the Woodlands Academy production are $8 in advance/$10 at the door. To purchase tickets, or for information, visit www.woodlandsacademy.org or call (847) 234-4300. Seating is limited, so you may want to reserve tickets early.
Founded in 1858, Woodlands Academy is an independent Catholic college preparatory day and boarding high school for young women. It's part of a worldwide network of Sacred Heart Schools that spans the United States and 40 other countries. A nonprofit, Woodlands Academy's identity is rooted in Saint Madeleine Sophie Barat's desire to inspire young hearts and minds to excel, to lead lives of integrity and to serve. For information about Woodlands Academy, please visit www.woodlandsacademy.org.